( 252) 



both barrels into a flock as they were passing by him. This num- 

 ber, although small in comparison with those mentioned above, is 

 large, and exceeds any exploit of my own, either with the present 

 or former species — of both of which I have killed a goodly num- 

 ber, but do not deem it important to tax my memory with the number 

 shot on any one occasion, to further illustrate the gregarious habits 

 of this familiar bird. 



In the Fauna Boreali Americana, it is stated that the Yellow- 

 shanks is a very common bird in the fur countries, and is seen 

 either solitary or in pairs, on the banks of every river, lake, and 

 marsh, up to the northern extremity of the continent. 



Mr. Audubon found a few on the coast of Labrador, but did not 

 discover their nests — and adds that he has been informed that they 

 breed in considerable numbers about Pictou. In the latter part of 

 August, the Yellow-shank commences moving southward, and in 

 September they have usually all retired from the shores of Long 

 Island. 



TOTANUS VOCIFERUS— WILSON. 



TELL-TALE TATLER. 



Tell-tale Godwit or Snipe, Scolopax vociferus, Wils. Amer. Orn. 

 Totanus melanoleucus. Bonap. Syn. 

 Totanus vociferus, Tell-tale, Sw. & Rich. 

 Tell-tale or Greater Yellow-shanks;, Nutt. Man. 

 Tell-tale Godwit, Totanus melanoleucus, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Bill along the ridge 2i inches; tarsi 2^ ; 

 legs yellow. Adult with the bill black, at the base bluish ; upper 

 part of the head, loral space, cheeks, and neck, streaked with 

 brownish-black and white ; throat white ; a white line from the 

 bill to the eye ; a white ring round the eye ; breast and abdomen 

 white, spotted and barred with brownish-black ; sides and tail cov- 

 erts the same ; lower surface of the primaries light gray — upper 

 brownish black, the inner spotted white ; wing coverts and back, 

 brown, spotted with white, and dusky ; scapulars the same ; tail 

 brown, barred with white. 



